The power to acquire property by condemnation shall not depend on any
prior effort to acquire the same property by gift or purchase, nor shall the
power to negotiate for the gift or purchase of property be impaired by
initiation of condemnation proceedings. A potential condemnor who seeks to
acquire property by gift or purchase shall give the owner written notice of the
provisions of G.S. 40A-6. (1981, c. 919, s. 1; 1997-270, s. 4.)